‘Harry Potter’ at Night: Historical Society Extends Exhibition Hours

Image

The Astronomy room of the exhibit “Harry Potter: A History of Magic” at the New-York Historical Society.CreditCreditBryan Thomas for The New York Times

By Gabe Cohn

Jan. 11, 2019

Staying up until midnight before release day to grab copies of the latest “Harry Potter” book straight from the shipping box became hallowed tradition for a generation of young readers. Now, the New-York Historical Society is offering a late-night Potter fix of a different kind.

The museum announced Friday that it will extend its hours during the final week of “Harry Potter: A History of Magic.” Beginning Jan. 21 and continuing through the exhibition’s final day (Jan. 27), the museum will be open until 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and until midnight Friday and Saturday. It will close at 6 p.m. on Thursday and 7 p.m. on Sunday.

“Harry Potter: A History of Magic” has proved a blockbuster exhibition for the museum, which has devoted considerable resources to it through additional programming, such as trivia nights led by a costumed staff member — complete with a cash bar and J.K. Rowling-inspired cocktails. (Those eager young midnight-release Potter fans have long since turned 21, of course; some may take advantage of the extended hours to bring along children of their own.)

The exhibition unpacks Potter’s origins, looking at Rowling’s initial writing process but also at the history of magical myths in a broader sense through some of series’ cultural and scientific influences.

More information, including a schedule of special events, can be found at nyhistory.org.

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page C3 of the New York edition with the headline: ‘Harry Potter’ to Get Longer Museum Hours. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe